Underwater mooring release device

ABSTRACT

An underwater mooring release device having an explosive-chargeactuated piston to shear a diaphragm and release toggle-type load retainer means. Control for the explosive charge is enclosed in a housing which remains sealed after detonation of the explosive charge and release of the tethered load. Simple clamping means releases the components for servicing and reconditioning after a use cycle.

United States Patent William Gordon 1173 Fountain Way, Anaheim, Calif. 92806 July 7, 1969 May 1 1, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented UNDERWATER MOORING RELEASE DEVICE 13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 114/206, 24/241, 24/230, 294/83 Int. Cl B631) 21/24- A44b 13/00 Field of Search 24/230.1

(P), 230.1 11 241, 230.1 cursory); ll4/206.l, 206 (Curso 'y); 9/44, 32; 294/831 (ER), 83 (inquired) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,130,703 4/1964 Thompson 24/230.1-PUX 3,287,781 11/1966 Perez 24/230. l-PUX Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Attorney-Sellers and Brace ABSTRACT: An underwater mooring release device having an explosive-charge-actuated piston to shear a diaphragm and release toggle-type load retainer means. Control for the explosive charge is enclosed in a housing which remains sealed after detonation of the explosive charge and release of the tethered load. Simple clamping means releases the components for servicing and reconditioning after a use cycle.

UNDERWATER MOORING RELEASE DEVICE This invention relates to quick-release devices and more particularly to an improved high-load capacity underwater mooring release.

There is a growing list of applications for quick-release devices. Numerous designs have been proposed to meet the diverse requirements but these are subject to shortcomings and disadvantages eliminated by the present invention. For example, it has been proposed to employ explosive charges for activating the release mechanism utilizing detonator means for the explosive charge capable of being energized either by timer means or from a remote point. Prior arrangements of this type have proven unsatisfactory when required to operate submerged to any substantial depth because the hydrostatic head causes the housing for the control components to leak, causing malfunctioning if not total nonfunctioning of the equipment. Another serious shortcoming is the inability of prior designs to function properly at depths where the hydrostatic pressure is in excess of a few thousand p.s.i.

By the present invention there is provided a simple rugged highly reliable foolproof mooring release mechanism for releasing a moored load or the like quickly and with certainty. A thick-walled housing for the detonator control equipment includes a readily detachable mounting for the explosive charge as well as for a shearing piston actuated thereby. This piston operates to shear a diaphragm sealed across the end of the mounting for the piston and equipped with means on its exterior for holding a toggle release mechanism in cocked position. Detonation of the charge drives the piston to shear the diaphragm and disengage the toggle release. The shearing piston is held captive within its mounting and includes seals effective to withstand the high hydrostatic pressure and prevent leakage of fluid into the interior of the housing for the electrical controls.

Accordingly it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved high-reliability. quick-acting mooring release.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved underwater mooring release device utilizing an explosive charge to activate a shearing piston to free toggle-release mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an underwater release device having a high-strength shear diaphragm arranged to hold a toggle-release linkage in cocked position until such time as an explosive charge activates a shearing piston to destroy the diaphragm and disengage the toggle linkage.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mooring release mechanism reliably operable under very high hydrostatic heads and utilizing a shear diaphragm for holding a toggle release lever in cocked position and so arranged that the load forces transmitted to the shear diaphragm are opposed to the hydrostatic pressure forces acting thereon.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the mooring release mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 3-3 on FIG. 1 and showing theparts in cocked loadsupporting position.

Referring to FIGS. l3, there is shown one preferred embodiment of the mooring release, designated generally 10, provided at its top with a tang 11 attachable to a suspension cable 12 extending to a buoy or the like. The cylindrical main housing 13 is thick walled and capable of. withstanding very high hydrostatic fluid pressures in excess of 20,000 or more p.s.i. Housed within this cylinder is any suitable mechanism of either the self-contained timer or remote-control types, operable to energize a detonator for an explosive charge employed to operate mooring release mechanism, designated generally 15, and projecting from the lower end of housing 13. Mechanism 15 is preferably enclosed by an open-ended tubular guard shroud 16 to safeguard the release mechanism against damaging contact with foreign bodies.

Release mechanism 15 is secured to the bottom 18 of housing 13 by high-strength clamping screws 19,20 and 21. Screws 19 and 20 pass through the outer ends of a bracket 22 having a transverse slot 23 traversed by a high-strength pivot pin 24 pivotally supporting an L-shaped toggle lever 25. Extending crosswise of one edge of bracket 22 are a pair of depending fixed stops 26,26 located closely adjacent either side of slot 23. The depending leg 27 of toggle lever 25 has a notch 28 opening through its left-hand lateral edge, as viewed in FIG. 3, sized to loosely seat a load coupling ring 30 attached to the load being moored. When toggle lever 25 is held captive in its cocked position as shown in FIG. 3, then the entrance end of notch 28 lies flush against the adjacent side of fixed stops 26,26 which cooperate in positively holding ring 30 captive in notch 28.

It will be observed that when the toggle lever is in its cocked position, a vertical plane passing through the center of the body of ring 30 is closely spaced to the left of a vertical plane through the axis of pivot pin 24. Accordingly, the major portion of the load on ring 30 is transmitted to and supported by pivot pin 24 and a relatively small portion is transmitted to the outer end 32 of toggle lever 25.

The means for holding toggle lever 25in a cocked position comprises a specially constructed shearable diaphragm 34 having an inwardly projecting boss centrally thereof formed with a well 35. The bottom wall 36 of well 35 is the failure or shear section of the diaphragm and the thickness of the connecting peripheral rim of section 36 with the main body of diaphragm 34 is a factor determinative of the load supporting ability of the release device. It will be understood that the shear strength of section 36 is sufficient to assure retention of the load with an adequate factor of safety under the particular operating conditions for which the device is designated. ln tegral with and projecting downwardly from the exterior side of shear section '36 is a boss 38 grooved near its outer end to accommodate and seat the slotted end 39 of toggle lever 25.

Diaphragm 34is held assembled to the outer flanged end 42 of a thick-walled tube 43 by a retainer ring 44 and clamping bolts 19, 20, 21 Tube 43 has a snug fit within a bore 45 passing through. the bottom wall 18 of housing 13, and its flange 42v is provided on its opposite faces with O-rings or the like high-pressure sealing gaskets. The inner end of tube 43 is threaded to mount a threaded housing 46 of an explosive charge and is locked in high-pressure fluidtight assembly with the tube by an O-ring 47 and a wrenching flange 48 integral with the threaded housing 46. The outer end of tube 43 supports a piston 50 provided with shearing plunger 51, the conically countersunk outer end of which normally seats against shear section 36 of diaphragm 34. Piston 50 is provided with a high-pressure sealingring and constitutes an important part of the fluid seal between the exterior of housing 13 and the interior thereof after severance of the diaphragm shear section 36. It will be understood that tube 43 may be omitted merely by machining the bottom wall' 18 of housing 13 to seat the explosive charge casing 46.and shear piston 50.

The operation of the above-described mooring release will be readily understood from the foregoing description of its components and their functional relationship to one another. The parts are assembled as shown in the drawing prior to being submerged. and suspended on the lower end of able 12. Under these conditions it will be understood that toggle lever 25 is mechanically locked in its cocked position, as illustrated with its slotted. end 39 seated in the annular channel around projection 38 forming part of the diaphragm shear section 36.

The assembled device is submerged with the load firmly coupled to. load ring 30. Under these conditions the load applied to toggle lever 25 by ring 30 acts to urge lever 25 to pivot counterclockwise about pivot pin 24 and to place boss 38 of the diaphragm 34 in tension.

Release of the moored load is accomplished in a highly effective and efficient manner under the control of the mechanism enclosed within housing 13. Either at the end of a predetermined time period or upon activation by remote control via signals transmitted through cable 58, the explosive charge within housing 46 is detonated by electrical energy supplied thereto via conductors 60. The high-pressure energy thereby released into the midportion of tube 43 is applied against the inner end of shearing piston 50, causing stem 51 to shear section 36 from diaphragm 34, and immediately freeing toggle lever 25 for counterclockwise pivoting about pivot pin 24. As this occurs, the ring-retainer notch 28 moves away from the fixed stops 26, allowing ring 30 to escape from notch 28. It will be understood that the powerful outward thrust delivered by piston 50, in addition to shearing diaphragm section 36 continues and is applied via boss 38 to the outer end of toggle lever 25 forcing the latter to pivot counterclockwise. This powerful thrust delivered to the toggle lever can be of controlling importance particularly in case bamacles and marine growth have accumulated and fused the release linkage components together.

The severing of diaphragm 34 pennits the surrounding water to press against the outer end of piston stem 51 and to drive the piston inwardly until its inner end seats against annular flange 54. In this position, the piston provides a high reliability, positive fluid seal against the exterior hydrostatic pressure. A portion of the pressure drop occurs along the interface between well 35 and stem 51, and another portion across the exterior periphery of piston 50 and its packing ring.

It is found in practice that hydrostatic pressures in excess of 20,000 p.s.i. are easily withstood by this sealing thereby safeguarding the components interiorly of housing 13 against the entrance of any fluid.

Reconditioning the described release for another operating cycle is carried out after first raising mechanism to the surface. it is then a simple matter to remove clamping bolts 19,20 and 21 permitting withdrawal of tube 43 from bore 45. A new explosive charge component 46 is then assembled into place, new seals are installed and tube 43 is reinserted in bore 45. Thereafter a new diaphragm 34 is pressed against the outer end of flange 42, clamping rim 44 is applied over the diaphragm and bracket 22 along with toggle lever and load ring are assembled in cocked position relative to diaphragm boss 38. The clamping screws are then inserted and firmly tightened completing the assembly operation in readiness for submersion and connection to a load in the same manner as previously.

While the particular underwater mooring release device herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A high load capacity underwater mooring release device adapted to function reliably under high hydrostatic head conditions, said release device having a fluidtight high-strength main housing enclosing reciprocable piston means, shearable diaphragm means sealed across the path of travel of said piston means and normally holding the latter retracted, quickrelease toggle means coupled to the exterior of said diaphragm means effective to hold a heavy load captive so long as said shearable diaphragm means remain intact, and explosive charge means operatively associated with said piston means for shearing said diaphragm means and freeing said quickrelease toggle means.

2. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said piston means includes high-pressure seal means for withstanding high hydrostatic pressures following shearing of said diaphragm means and effective to prevent fluid from bypassing the same and flowing into portions of said main housing inwardly of said explosive charge means.

3. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said main housing has thick walls designed to withstand high hydrostatic pressures and having a bore therethrough for a thick-walled flanged tube having a close fit in said bore, means for sealing said explosive charge means to the inner end of said flanged tube, said piston means being mounted in the outer end of said flanged tube, and means for clamping said shearable diaphragm means and said flanged tube in place across the outer end of said bore in a fluidtight manner.

4. An underwater release device as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said piston means is slidably mounted in a bore provided with an annular inwardly projecting flange intermediate its opposite ends and between said explosive charge means and said piston means.

5. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said piston means includes an axial boss on the outer end thereof of substantially smaller diameter than said piston means and positioned to shear a small diameter secton from said shear diaphragm to free said quick-release toggle means.

6. An underwater release device as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said shearable diaphragm means comprises a thick plate having a deep well opening inwardly toward said piston means and including a relatively thin bottom wall constituting a shearable section, and said piston means including an axial stem portion having a sliding fit with the sidewall of said well and effective to shear said shearable section upon detonation of said explosive means.

7. An underwater release device as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said clamping means for said flanged tube and said shearable diaphragm means is readily releasable after detonation of said explosive charge means to permit replacement of a used diaphragm means with a substitute unused diaphragm means.

8. An underwater release device as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said clamping means also includes means for securing said quick release means to said main housing.

9. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said quick-release means comprises means for pivotably supporting lever means notched close to the pivot therefor and cooperating with fixed stop means adjacent its open end when held in cocked position by said diaphragm means, and said lever means being pivotable to a position clear of said fixed stop means upon shearing of said diaphragm means by detonation of said explosive means.

it). An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the shear portion of said shearable diaphragm means is substantially smaller in area than the portion of said piston means positioned to shear said diaphragm means whereby said piston means is held captive after detonation of said explosive means.

I]. An underwater release device as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said lever means and the pivotal support therefor is so arranged that said lever means pivots away from said shearable diaphragm means upon shearing of the latter, and said piston means being effective upon shearing said diaphragm means to impart a high-impact thrust on said lever means to initiate opening movement thereof despite encrustations of bamacles and the like marine growth thereon and on adjacent components of said quick-release toggle means.

12. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of means including a buoyant means for supporting said release device submerged at a selected depth and releasably coupled to mooring means, and said release device, said suspension means therefor and said buoyant means remaining connected together and being recoverable as a unit for reuse following operation of said quick-release toggle means to disengage the coupling thereof from said mooring means.

13. A high load capacity underwater mooring release device comprising a sealed main housing equipped with fast-action release means, said release means being mounted on the exterior of said main housing and including a generally horizontal main pivot means, a toggle lever joumaled on said pivot means having an open-ended notch disposed to retain a mooring line captive therein when said toggle lever is pivoted to a cocked position with the open end of said notch closely adjacent fixed stop means on the exterior of said main housing,

the wall of said main housing having a sealed chamber therein closed on its outer end by a diaphragm adapted to withstand to a position wherein said open-ended notch is remote from said fixed stop means. 

1. A high load capacity underwater mooring release device adapted to function reliably under high hydrostatic head conditions, said release device having a fluidtight high-strength main housing enclosing reciprocable piston means, shearable diaphragm means sealed across the path of travel of said piston means and normally holding the latter retracted, quick-release toggle means coupled to the exterior of said diaphragm means effective to hold a heavy load captive so long as said shearable diaphragm means remain intact, and explosive charge means operatively associated with said piston means for shearing said diaphragm means and freeing said quick-release toggle means.
 2. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said piston means includes high-pressure seal means for withstanding high hydrostatic pressures following shearing of said diaphragm means and effective to prevent fluid from bypassing the same and flowing into portions of said main housing inwardly of said explosive charge means.
 3. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said main housing has thick walls designed to withstand high hydrostatic pressures and having a bore therethrough for a thick-walled flanged tube having a close fit in said bore, means for sealing said explosive charge means to the inner end of said flanged tube, said piston means being mounted in the outer end of said flanged tube, and means for clamping said shearable diaphragm means and said flanged tube in place across the outer end of said bore in a fluidtight manner.
 4. An underwater release device as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said piston means is slidably mounted in a bore provided with an annular inwardly projecting flange intermediate its opposite ends and between said explosive charge means and said piston means.
 5. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said piston means includes an axial boss on the outer end thereof of substantially smaller diameter than said piston means and positioned to shear a small diameter secton from said shear diaphragm to free said quick-release toggle means.
 6. An underwater release device as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said shearable diaphragm means comprises a thick plate having a deep well opening inwardly toward said piston means and including a relatively thin bottom wall constituting a shearable section, and said piston means including an axial stem portion having a sliding fit with the sidewall of said well and effective to shear said shearable section upon detonation of said explosive means.
 7. An underwater release device as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said clamping means for said flanged tube and said shearable diaphragm means is readily releasable after detonation of said explosive charge means to permit replacement of a used diaphragm means with a substitute unused diaphragm means.
 8. An underwater release device as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said clamping means also includes means for securing said quick release means to said main housing.
 9. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said quick-release means comprises means for pivotably supporting lever means notched close to the pivot therefor and cooperating with fixed stop means adjacent its open end when held in cocked position by said diaphragm means, and said lever means being pivotable to a position clear of said fixed stop means upon shearing of said diaphragm means by detonation of said explosive means.
 10. An underwater releaSe device as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the shear portion of said shearable diaphragm means is substantially smaller in area than the portion of said piston means positioned to shear said diaphragm means whereby said piston means is held captive after detonation of said explosive means.
 11. An underwater release device as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said lever means and the pivotal support therefor is so arranged that said lever means pivots away from said shearable diaphragm means upon shearing of the latter, and said piston means being effective upon shearing said diaphragm means to impart a high-impact thrust on said lever means to initiate opening movement thereof despite encrustations of barnacles and the like marine growth thereon and on adjacent components of said quick-release toggle means.
 12. An underwater release device as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of means including a buoyant means for supporting said release device submerged at a selected depth and releasably coupled to mooring means, and said release device, said suspension means therefor and said buoyant means remaining connected together and being recoverable as a unit for reuse following operation of said quick-release toggle means to disengage the coupling thereof from said mooring means.
 13. A high load capacity underwater mooring release device comprising a sealed main housing equipped with fast-action release means, said release means being mounted on the exterior of said main housing and including a generally horizontal main pivot means, a toggle lever journaled on said pivot means having an open-ended notch disposed to retain a mooring line captive therein when said toggle lever is pivoted to a cocked position with the open end of said notch closely adjacent fixed stop means on the exterior of said main housing, the wall of said main housing having a sealed chamber therein closed on its outer end by a diaphragm adapted to withstand high hydrostatic heads and including means for holding said load-supporting lever in cocked position, and explosively actuated means within said main housing operable to shear said diaphragm and release said toggle lever for pivotal movement to a position wherein said open-ended notch is remote from said fixed stop means. 